Brilliant Stephen Peters crushes Middlesex

Northamptonshire 307 and 395 for 4 beat Middlesex 442 for 8 dec and 258 for 3 dec by six wickets
Scorecard

Stephen Peters smashed an unbeaten career-best 183 to single-handedly lead Northamptonshire to a dramatic final day County Championship Division Two win against all odds against Middlesex.

The 31-year-old rolled back the years, beating his previous best 178, by five runs off 252 balls as the hosts chased down 393 to claim their second successive Championship victory by six wickets. Alex Wakely chipped in with 87 while 30 and 40 from David Sales and Rob White respectively also proved vital as Northamptonshire recorded the highest fourth innings score ever against Middlesex.

However it could have all been different had Scott Newman - who hit 112 during Middlesex's second innings - and Sam Robson not dropped Peters off the bowling of Shaun Udal before lunch. Udal ended up without a wicket while Steven Finn led a tired Middlesex charge with 2 for 81 but is unlikely to have impressed any on looking England selectors.

Middlesex started the final day on the front foot with seamer Tim Murtagh forcing Mal Loye to edge to England captain Andrew Strauss early on for 19 to leave Northamptonshire 43 for 1. However that was to be it for the visitors until well into the second session at Wantage Road as Peters and Wakely set about chasing down the target.

The pair batted with attacking intent, reaching their century stand off 140 balls - but they were lucky to go into lunch at 143 for 1 still at the crease. Former England spinner Udal did his best to break up the partnership but was not helped by his fielders with Newman putting down Peters at leg slip and Robson likewise at short leg.

Peters and Wakely picked up where they left off after lunch with the latter bringing up his 50 from 98 deliveries and the former passing three figures off 140 balls. However they were finally separated in the 56th over with Northamptonshire on 222 when England hopeful Finn removed Wakely's off stump 13 shy of his century.

Incoming batsmen Sales was initially unsettled by Finn but soon settled into the crease as the hosts went in at tea 258 for 2 - needing a reachable 135 still to win. Sales did not last long after tea when he was trapped leg before wicket by Dawid Malan in the 67th over but that just brought White to the crease.

He kept up the momentum with a 44-ball 40 before falling to Finn - however Middlesex could not remove Peters, who alongside Andrew Hall (15 not out) sent the visitors to their third straight defeat.